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Wang Yi hosts first China-South Asia Six-Country Conference
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Qureshi says BRI, CPEC would help expand regional trade, connectivity and economic activity
ISLAMABAD – China Tuesday offered enhanced assistance to its partners in South Asia region and called for enhancing cooperation and collaboration in areas like COVID-19 pandemic, poverty alleviation and disaster relief.
The Six-Country Conference was hosted by the State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Mr Wang Yi while Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan also attended the Conference.
It may be mentioned here that India was not included in the conference.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in six-country Foreign Ministers’ Video Conference on Joint Response to COVID-19.
Welcoming the initiative, the Foreign Minister said that it was important for all participating countries to enhance cooperation and collaboration in areas like COVID-19 pandemic, poverty alleviation and disaster relief. He stressed that the pandemic was a common challenge and required joint efforts.
The Foreign Minister appreciated the key deliverables of the Conference including China-South Asia Emergency Supplies Reserve, China-South Asia Poverty Alleviation Cooperative Development Center and China-South Asia E-Commerce Cooperation Forum on Poverty Alleviation in Rural Areas.
He underlined that these initiatives will equip participating countries to better respond to health emergencies and natural disasters, and will be helpful in eradicating poverty. He underlined that economic and human security stands at the centre of regional development paradigm.
China-Pakistan Economic corridor (CPEC), and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would help expand regional trade, connectivity and economic activity, he added.
The Foreign Minister stressed the need to ensure equitable and affordable supply of vaccine as ‘global public good.’ He maintained that notions of stigmatisation and insinuations on the origin of the virus must be discouraged.
The Foreign Minister underscored that all countries should uphold multilateralism and extend full support to WHO’s science-based work and reject its politicisation.
Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed the participants about various measures taken by Pakistan to combat the virus aimed at preserving lives and securing livelihoods.
